Less than one week after a building collapsed in Yaba, Lagos, another three-storey building on Wednesday collapsed in Ebute Meta, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported, adding that about half of the building located at on No. 29 Oloto Street, collapsed on the right side leaving the other half hanging dangerously over adjoining buildings.
The building has not been occupied since 2012 after a portion at the back collapsed forcing residents in front apartments to vacate.
Rescue workers from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) were at the scene using sledge hammers to demolish the building from the point of the partial collapse.
Some residents of the area expressed the fear that if the demolition was not properly carried out, it might endanger other buildings in the area.
An eye witness, Dr Femi Adagunduro, said the building collapsed in the early hours of Wednesday.
“The collapse happened at exactly at 5.28 a.m. precisely and I called the police emergency number and they responded immediately,’’ he said.
Adagunduro explained that the building had been marked for demolition since 2012 and that the occupants had made efforts to ensure it was pulled down without success.
He lamented that the building was a hideout for social miscreants and refuse dump posing danger to the people’s health.
Another resident, Mr Rotimi Azeez, told NAN that the back portion of the building had killed about 10 persons when it collapsed in 2012, leading to its being marked for demolition.
“The demolition was delayed till it collapsed after 5 a.m. in the morning today,’’ he said.
Efforts to get the reaction of LASBCA on the issue failed as an official said that they were not allowed to speak to the press.
However, Mr Michael Akindele, General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), told journalists that all buildings that had been served demolition notice in the area would be pulled down without delay.
“Let me assure those that their buildings have been marked for demolition that we have commenced the demolition. Once there are proofs that tests have been done, we will demolish such buildings,’’ he said
